Crankcase flusher and cleaner



Junezs, 1937. 1K DEI- ANO 2,085,075v

CRANKCASE FLUSHERND CLEANER Llalnmas4 Delano,

June 29, 1937. J. K. DELANO GRANKGASE FLUSHER AND CLEANER Filed Jan. 8, 193e 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 29, 1937. J, K, DELANO AvMNKCAsE FLUSHER AND CLE'ANER Filed Jan. 8, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Snnentor dames K. Delanm BB Q Cittorneg Patented June 29,V 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,085,075 CRANKCASE FLUSHER AND CLEANER James K. Delano, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Application January s,Y mais, sen'al No. 58,135

6 Claims.

Inthe various methods now devised for cleaning crank-cases, there are found certain types of apparatus which inject and withdraw the cleaning fluid from the case, usually by manually operated valves, which are necessarily slow in` operation, or else they are connected to a motor driven pump, which is alternately reversed to inject or withdrawn the iiuid.

, It is also necessary to clean the withdrawn uid before reinjecting it, and heretofore it has been the custom to allow the iiuid to cleanitself by filtering, which takes time to accomplish, so that it required a. large volume of fluid in storage for cleaning, or else the cycles of injection and Withdrawals are few and slow, dueto both the time it takes to reversethe direction of the pump flow by manually operating the valves, or time it requires topass through the filtering medium.

It is very important that after an injection the withdrawal takefplace immediately, as the stirred up sediment usually of a heavy nature, containing particlesfof metal, hard carbon, fine sand, etc., `which will settle very quickly, andif vthe withdrawal does not take place while the dirt is in suspension, very poor cleaning-results.

It is important also that a crank-case be cleaned as quickly as possible from a conmiercial standpoint, so that the car will not be held uptoo long during the cleaning operation. Bym's7 method of timing, and the apparatus herein shown, I am able to within 20 seconds inject and withdraw a charge of cleaning fluid, and on the withdrawal, to filter it and immediately inject it again, and this can be repeated so that in a very few minutes the case is clean.

I have also devised means whereby the injections and withdrawals are of a positive nature,

and the withdrawals follow the injections in an instantaneous manner and dol not give the dislodged sediment anytime within which to settie, and thus all of the dislodged sediment is withdrawn with the cleaning liquid.

It is also important that the cleaning liquid be separated from all of the foreign mattei' which has become mixed with it after each withdrawal from the pan, and to accomplish this, I'have provided a centrifuge strainer through which the liquid passes, and which will effectively remove all of the heavyl particles of dirt, grit, and foreign (Cl. 1841.5) This' invention relates to an apparatus, semimatter therefrom; the centrifuge due to its high rotative speed forces the cleaner liquid through a renewable heavy felt bag, which retains the grit, etc., which can be renewed from time to time, or which can be cleaned and reinstated.

Also to provide for the most .eifective use of the liquid, it must be employed in a heated state, and this is accomplished by the use of a heater immersed in the liquid container of the apparatus.

As before stated, to provide the most eflicient and quickest method of removing and cleaning the sediment from the crank-case pan, it is importantthat the injections and withdrawals follow each other with great speed and without loss of time within which the sediment could again settle, and this has been accomplished by the use of a vsingle pump in connection with a novel twoway valve placed in the apparatus between the Aliquid tank and the service hose and the adapter,

which is described in my application for patent, on an Adapter bushing, Serial No. 13,201, filed March 27, 1935, and this valve is for reversing the direction of ow of liquid through the service hose to'alternately force the liquid into the crankcase pan, and then without loss of time to reverse the direction of flow and withdraw the liquid and the sediment which has become mixedwlth it from the pan, repeating these injections and withdrawals for the desired number of times to effect the removal of all of the old lubricant, dirt and sediment from the pan.

This is accomplished by rotating the valve by suitable gearing from the motor, this valve is not alternated back and forth, (as described in my application for patent, on a Crank and gear case cleaning apparatus, Serial No. 754,025, led November 21, 1934) but continues to revolve in one direction only, and the ports are so designed that the inlet and outlet are closed equally and opened equally so that the pump is relieved of all back pressure, and the ratio is such that by employing an alternating current motor having a constant speed, of say, 1800 R. P. M., the iiuid will be forced here shown as electrically operated) which is into, and remain in' the crank-case for a predetermined'length of time, and these injections and withdrawals being alternated for as many tims as are required to clean the crank-case. Should a direct current motor be employed, it should be of the shunt type, yhaving a constant speed, as

the operation of the valve is in direct ratio to the l maximum consumption of electric current; this control being under thermostatc regulation.

The low heater coil is energized by turning on the electric current from the main and before 5 any current is supplied tothe motor, and thus the fluid in the container is first preheated. Then by themanipulation of the double pole switch the current is admitted to the motor to operate the pump and valve, and at the same time the l high heater is energized, thus quickly increasing the temperature of the fiuid,and should the temperature become too high, the current is automatically cut oi by a'thermostat.

In the separation of the sediment from the 15 liquid, I have employed a centrifuge through which the liquid is forced to travel between eachA withdrawal and injection, and in place of having to remove the bowl of the centrifuge for cleaning out the deposit, I have provided a bowl with a `20 renewable lining of fabric in the form of a bag,

which when filled with dirt and grit, etc., can be removed and a clean one inserted in its place,

or the. dirt washed out and the bag replaced.

Also I have provided a transparent dome '25 through which all of the liquid has to pass and showing the upper side of the deck and gearing.-v

Figure 3 is a similar. View, but taken on the line 3-3 and looking upward. Y

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail plan view of the Dump- Figure 5 is an enlarged detail longitudinal sectional view of the two-way valve during the rst suction period. 45 Figure 6 is an enlarged detail, partial vertical view of the valve.

Figure 'Z is a view taken on the line 1 1 of Figure 1, showing the inside of the duct member.

Figure 8 is a partial sectional view of the serv- 50 ice hose, adapter, and crank-case.

Figure 9 shows an electrical wiring diagram of lthe apparatus.

Figure 10 is a schematic drawing of the device. I

Figure -11 is a detail sectional view of the cen- 55 `trifuge, showing the renewable sediment bag.

Referring to Athe drawings:

Ihave indicated an outer casing l0 of suitable sheet material, either round, square, or rectangular, but which is here shown as round, and

60 within the lower end of which is secured a bottom supporting ring I, provided with the feet l2 and the bearings I3 for the shaft |4 upon which the traction wheels l5 are mounted.

The upper end of the casing i8 is closed by a 65 cover plate |1 which is hinged thereto as at IIB and secured by a latch I9.

About midway between the ends, within said casing Il! is secured'upon'the ring 2l), a deck 2|.

Below this deck 2| and to the underside thereof- 10 are secured the upper ends of the motor Asupporting legs 22 Vwhich are attached at their lower ends to the motor 24; the rotor shaft 25 of the motor 24 'is coupled by a universal joint 26 to the vertical d rive shaft 21 which extends up 75 wards through anreopening in the deck 2| and upper end of this shaft 21 is detachably mounted the centrifuge'bowl 38 by the boss 39 and screw 4|).

This bowl 38 is formed with an open upper end and inwardly tapered sides terminating in a beaded edge 38 and provided with a series of radial openings 23 in the side adiacent to the bottom; while within this bowl 38 is secured a screen backing 4| and a renewable fabric bag |50.

Embracing this bowl \38 is an inner tubular can 42; s`et with a bottom composed of a flat portion43, an inclined portion 41, and an upwardly extending tubular collar portion 46; and having a central opening and a lower flange 49 surrounding the lower part of the bowl 38 and spaced therefrom. r

The cover plate I1 is formed with a central opening 5|, and a sight hole 52 affording a view of an indicator'fiush gage and a fluid level indicator.

Y This central opening 5| has a threaded collar 54 for a sight feed dome 55 qf glass, and the lower face of the. cover |1 is formed with a duct 5B leading from the boss 51 to and discharging into the central opening 5| and glass dome 55. Attached to the lower face of the cover |1 is a ller can and splash guard 58 with a funnel 68; 4

the lfunnel 60 has a breather pipe 5|.

If desired this cover plate |1 may'be rectangular and flat, and the glass dome 55 maybe located directly above the upper end of the pipe 62 and have a funnel leading to the centrifuge 38.

' The cover plate |1 may also be formed with an opening directly above and affording access to the bowl 38 and through which the liquid may be entered-when loading the device.

On this plate I1 may also be mounted the injection counter and an oil level gage as well as two lights to indicate if the low or high heat is on.

Secured to the flat portion 43.' of the bottom of the can 42 is a lower can 3| which has an'inclined bottom and a at bottom 63 of wire mesh to form a strainer, through which the oil may pass tothe heater, and this bottom 63 is also provided with a-central opening having an upstandin'gA annular collar |55, surrounding the bearing 31. This can 3| is also embraced by the outer can 32 which forms the liquid chamber 34.

To eliminate the trouble caused by the use of piping between the several parts to convey the 68; and to this duct memberv66 are secured the liquid, and which is secured to the bottom face yof the deck 2| by a gasket 61 and a series of ,bolts gear pump 28 and the valve 29; while one endl of said member 66 is provided with a drain cock 68 extending through the side of the casing I8 and communicating with a duct 83.-

This duct member66 is formed with the (ducts 18, 1|;and`12, and thejopenings 18, and 14 which communicate with the pump 28 and also the openings 15, 16, and |5| which communicate with the ports of the valve 29. f

-Mounted on the deck 2| and. communicating with the duct 10-of the member 66, is a check valve 18, to which is attached the lower end of the inner telescoping tube or pipe 19; the upper section 62 of which rests upon the spring 8| which retains the said pipe 62 tight within the boss 51 when the cover I1 is closed.

Also mounted upon the deck 2| issecured a second check valve 82 which communicates with the duct i0 in the member 66.

Adjacent to 'these check valves 18 and 82, the deck 2| is formed with two openings which lead to the duct 84.in the member 66, which communicates with the drain the chamber 34 within the casing or can 32.

The support 36 is provided with a bearing 88 in aligned relation with a bearing 89 on the deck 2|, and within these bearings 08 and 89'is rotatably mounted a shaft 90 upon which is mounted a worm wheel 80 rotated -by a worm 92 on the drive shaft 21. A Worm 93 is also secured on the shaft 90 to rotate a worm wheel 94 on the shaft 95 of the valve 29 mounted in the bracket 96 on the deck 2| for rotating ple port valve 29.

This' valve 29 is of special design as it operates in the liquid, and as the sediment and grit from the crank-case passes through on the suction period of the cycle, they would clog and damage the usual type of valve and cause it to be either scored or jammed.

To overcome this disadvantage, I have designed a valve having-a body 29 formed with four radial bosses 91, 98, 99 and |00; the bosses 91 and 98 having closed ends; the boss 99 having its end closed by the plug I0| and the boss |00 being connected to the pipe |02. l

The bosses 91, 98, and 99 are formed with the openings or ducts |03, |04, register with the ducts or |5I in the member 66. and |00 are also formed with'radial ducts |06, |01. |08, and |09, all of which communicate with the central valve core, within which is rotatably mounted the valve rotor I9 secured on the shaft III and formed with the two ports IIZ and` I I3.

the valve rotor of the multiopenings 15, 16, and The bosses 91, 98, 99,

The ducts |06, |01, and |08 also communicate with the ducts |03, |04, and |05.

To prevent the valve 29 from being scored as well as the core ||0 by the foreign matter passing therethrough, I'have provided this core I I9 with two grooves I4, and have beveled4 the corners as at I5 leaving openings, and have provided atube ||6 extending from one corner of the core y| I0 to and intothe liquid chamber 34 so that lubricant is fed tothe ocre ||0 and foreign matter entering the valve can be carried o through 'the grooves II4, corner openings I|5 andthe tube IIS; the core ||0 being rotated in one direction only.

During the irst injection, the port ||2 oi the A valve rotor IIO registers with the ports |08 and ||1lof the body 29; while the port ||3 of the valve rotor IIO registers with the ports |06 and |09Aof the' valve body 29. When the rotor has revolved for another quarter turn for the ilrst suction period which immediately follows the in, jection period, the port I|2 registers with the ports |06 and |01; while the port ||3 registers "with the ports I 06 and |09, thus completing the port positions for one cleaning cycle. As the valve continues to rotate for a third quarter turn to begin the second injection, and the start of another cleaning cycle, the port ||2 registers with the ports |06 and |09; while the port ||3 registers with the .ports |01 and |08, and, when cock 69 for draining and |05 therein, and' the rotor makes the fourth quarter turn for the second suction stroke which will complete the second cleaning cycle, the port I|2 is in registry with the ports |06 and |09 at the same time that the port |I3 is registering with the ports |06 and |01.

The liquid pump 28 is of the gear type and comprises the casing and cover; while the interior is formed with the intake ||1 and outlet |I8 and within which are mounted ,fthe impeller gears I9 and |20, which are of special design, having their teeth so shaped that there is considerable spa'ce between the back face of the teeth of one gear and the front face of the teeth of the opposing gear, so that any dirt or particles of foreign matter can pass between the teeth of the gears without damage or stoppage of the pump; the gear |I9 is mounted on a stud I2| and the gear |20 is secured on the shaft 21.

I have also provided a visual counter 64 for recording the number of rotations of the valve 28; that is, the number of cleaning cycles; and this comprises a dial 64 on the can 42 which is visible through an opening 52 in the cover I1, and in connection with this dial 64 is a hand |22 secured on the upper end of a rod |23; the lower end of which is journaled in the bracket 96 and has afgear |24 secured thereon and rotated by a pinion |25 on the shaft 95.

To determine the amount of fluid in the chamber 34, I have provided a suitable fluid level gage of the usual float type, having a vertical rod |26 with a pointer |21 attached to the upper end over a dial mounted in the upper part of the apparatus, a fioat not shown being secured on the lower end of the rod |26.

For heating the liquid in the chamber 34, I

have provided an electric induction heatervl28' V-of novel design.

the electric wires are carried through a suitable switch |30 and a thermostatic control I 3| from a current supply plug.

Referring to the Wiring diagram, Figure 9, a current input plug |32 is shown which'is to be connected to the current supply and from this in one lead |33 to the motor 24 and thermostat |3I, and another lead |34 to the common terminal |35 of a double pole switch |36.

From this terminal |35, a wire 31 is connected to a low heater |38 which is connected by a wire |39 to one terminal of the high heater |53 and by a wire |52 to one terminal of the switch |36; the other terminal of the high heater |53 being connected to one terminal of the thermostat |3I. The circuits are completed by the motor 24 to the switch |36.

In the operation of the device, a clean filterbag |50 is inserted into the centrifuge 38 and the required quantity of cleaning fluid introduced through the can 58, the centrifuge 38 and can 3|, into the chamber 34, submerging and surrounding the heater |28 to the level indicated.

Theelectrlc current is admitted through the plug |32 supplying current to the low heater |38 without operating the motor 24, Vand in this manner the fluid is warmed up.

Since the thermostat |3| is closed when the connection |32 is both heaters will be operating in series according to Figure 9, which fact will produce the low a wire |54 fromI plugged into' the current line,

heat. 'when the switch |36 1s closed, the heaters will -be acting in parallel and since the restrainer member interposed between the valveA e y sistance will be lowered, the heat will be greater.

The service hose |40 is now connected by the adapter |4I to the drain opening of the crankcase |42 (the case |42 having rst been drained) and the switch |36 is now closed, supplying currcnt' to both the motor 24 and the high heater 3.

The motor shaft 21 operating the pump 28 'to draw the heated fluid from the chamber 34 through the check valve 82 in the deck 2|, duct 10 and the hole |5I in the member 66, and then through the ducts |04, |01, ||2, |08, and |05 in the valve 29; hole 15, duct 1|,.and hole 13 in the member 65 to the intake ||1 of the pump 28, through the exhaust ||8 of the pump, and then the ducts and holes 14, 12, and 16 in the member 66, to the ducts |03, r|06, ||3, |09, of thevvalve 29; and through the pipe |02 and service hose |40, and adapter |4| to the crank-case |42. While at the same time, the motor shaft 21, through the gearing 80, 92, 93, and 94 is rotating the valve core ||0 to change the direction of. flow of the fluid therethrough, to withdraw the ud from the crank-case |42 through the adapter |4|, service hose 140, and pipe |02"to the ducts |09, ||3, |08, and A|05 of the valve 29, and through the hole 15, duct 1|, and hole 13 in the member 66 to the intake ||1 of the pump 28 andthrough said pump 28 and out the exhaust ||8 to the hole 14, duct 12 and hole 16 of the member 66 to the ducts or ports |03, |06, ||2, |01, and |04 of the valve 29, and through hole |5|, duct 10 of the member 66, upwards through the check valve 18 in the deck 2|. and'through the telescoping pipes 19 and 62, and the duct 56 in the cover plate |1 to the glass dome 55, and down through the filter bag |50, where it is then driven through the centrifuge 36 into the chamber 34.

Through the gears |24 and |25, each rotation of the valve 29 is indicated by the counter S4; and, by the float |21 in the chamber 34, the fluid level is indicated on the gage |21.

After the required number of injections and withdrawals have been completed, the current may be cut olf and the fluiddrained from the chamber /34 by the drain cock 69 and the lter bag |50 may be removed from the centrifuge 38.

for cleaning or forreplacement by a new bag. l

Should the fluid become too hot, the flow of current through the heater |53 is cut olf by the action of the thermostat 13|, which breaks the circuit from the wire |33 through the switch |36 of the wire |34 and cuts out the high heater |53 leaving the 10W heater the wire |33, motor 24, double pole switch |36 and wire |31.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to lsecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an apparatus for cleaning crank-cases of the class` described, comprising a cleaning uid supply container, a motor driven pump for causing the ul'd to travel, a valve having va series of ports for directing the'direction of travel, means actuated by and timed in relation to the speed of the motor for operating said valve to reverse the direction of flow of the uid through said valve, a single duct tubular connection between the vvalve and the crank-case through which the fluid passes in either direction, a centrifuge havinga |38 energized throughv and the iluid intake and driven by the motor, a renewable filter for said strainer member, and means for heating the fluid while Within the fluid supply container.

2. In a crank-case cleaning apparatus, comprising a cleaning fluid supply container, and a single duct tubular connectionfor conveying the fluid to the crank-case, a motor driven pump for causing the uid to flow through saidsingle tubular connection, means mounted in the path of ow of said iluid for reversing the direction of liow of fluid through the tubular connection, means timed in direct ratio to the speed of the motor for actuating said flow reversing' means, means for centrifuging and straining the fluid, and means for heating the iluid while within the container.

3. In a crank-case cleaning apparatus of the class described comprising a liquid container and a valve said valve having a.single duct tubular connection with the crank-case, means for injecting into and withdrawing the liquid from the crank-case through the single tubular connection to the valve, means in mechanically timed relation for alternating the injections and withdrawals, means for normally heating the liquid, means for increasing the temperature during the injection and withdrawal periods, and means for centrifuging the liquid each time upon its withdrawal from the crank-case.

4. In a crank-case cleaning apparatus, comprising a cleaning fluid supply container and a Valve, a single duct connection for conveying the uid back and forth between the uid valve and .the crank-case, a, single motor driven pump for causing the iluid to travel through the connection, a rotary multi-port valve mounted in the path of travel of the fluid, means mechanically timed for alternatingthe direction of iiow of uld through said valve. v

' 5. In a crank-case cleaner apparatus, comprising a cleaning uid supply container and a valve, a single duct tubular connection between the valve and the crankcase for conveying the fluid to and from the crank-case, amotor driven pump for circulating the fluid through said tubular connection, a reversible valve located in the path of travel of the iiuld, means mechanically vtimed and actuated by the motor and timed in positive ratio thereto for directing the iiow through different paths in said valve for reversing the flow of fhiid therethrough, means for cleaning the uid after each withdrawal from the crank-case, comprising'a centrifuge having` an open end to receive the fluid, a perforated side for the escape o! the cleaned fluid and a renewable filtering medium within the centrifuge.

6. In a crank case cleaning apparatus, comprising a cleaning fluid supply container having a control valve therefor and a. single duct tubular connection between said valve and the crank case,

Y a motor driven pump for causing the liquid to travel through said tubular connection, means mounted in the path of said travel for reversing the direction of ow, means timed in direct ratio to the speed of the motorl for actuating said ow reversing means, means for centrifuging and l straining the fluid after each withdrawal from the crank case, and means for heating the liquid while within the container.

JAMES K. DELANo. v 

